This $25.7M Cottage Grove project is delayed again. Here’s why. Plus, where to expect new pavement?

How is it already September?

I feel like I blinked and summer is almost over. School is back in full swing, and as always, there’s a lot happening.

So here’s what I have been working on...including another delay for a $25.7 million infrastructure project in Cottage Grove, an unexpected development at 829 Yale, and whether the Nicholson water line project is actually on track.

But first, a quick Heights Win!

I’ve been told W. 6th Street between N. Shepherd Drive and the dead end is getting a fresh layer of pavement.

According to our councilman’s office, construction began August 24 and is expected to take about 20 working days.

If you’re traveling through the area, expect construction activity and allow some extra time.

Let’s talk Cottage Grove East Subproject 2: Where does it actually stand?

Cottage Grove is an area I get asked about all the time. It’s an area that needs some infrastructure love, no doubt.

But unfortunately, that TLC is going to be delayed, once again.

The City now says construction on the $25.7 million Cottage Grove East Subproject 2 is now expected to begin Winter 2027 (instead of now.)

They say major completion is anticipated around Winter 2028, with some portions of the overall project extending into late 2029.

Yeah.🫣

The project includes street reconstruction, drainage, water, wastewater and sidewalk improvements.

The design is complete and funding is secured, but a contractor still hasn’t been selected.

So why has this taken so long, and can residents actually count on Winter 2027?

Council Member Joe Panzarella’s office tells me delays have involved design changes and coordination between City departments and utility providers. The office says it knows residents are frustrated and they are continuing to work with Public Works to move things forward.

And what about Cottage Grove West?

District C says most of its available Stormwater Action Team funding has already been allocated to drainage improvement projects agreed upon under former council member Abbie Kamin’s office, but Panzarella’s office is looking at whether there are any funds or other short-term solutions available.

The office says it hopes to submit Cottage Grove West for assessment for smaller-scale improvements while continuing to push for the larger projects in the future.

Lastly, Council Member Panzarella told me he plans on attending the Cottage Grove Civic Club this month.

So if you live there: Attend! Make your voices heard.

Even better, it’s a zoom call on the 24th.

829 Yale — arrest made!

This was pretty surprising. I had just posted last week about 829 Yale, and how neighbors had noticed what sounded like activity inside the long-stalled Heights condo project, while the property itself was becoming increasingly overgrown.

So I posted an update about the property.

And then, after I posted my reel… an arrest was made the next day after a man allegedly threw bricks/concrete from the top floor of the building at a nearby maintenance worker.

The timing here was pretty wild. Certainly not the update I was expecting.

Dane Mireles was arrested and charged with deadly conduct.

I’m continuing to work on what exactly is happening with the property. As I mentioned, there’s also an ongoing legal battle, with another hearing scheduled for next week. I will follow it!

And Nicholson Construction!

I’ve gotten a bunch of messages about the Nicholson water line project and whether there are any updates.

Yes — I’m working on that this week, too.

So many of you messaged me about this one, and I’m trying to get a better sense of where things stand now and what’s next.

❤️

And yes, I haven’t forgotten about CenterPoint.

The weather pushed back my plans to go out with the CenterPoint team last week to show you more about their resiliency project.

But we rescheduled for this week!

I want to show you exactly what they’re replacing, why they’re doing it, what it means for reliability in the Heights, and when those poles are finally going away for good.

According to the District C office, “The project will replace 23 utility poles with stronger, storm resilient poles designed to better withstand extreme winds, helping improve reliability, reduce outages, and support fast power restoration.”

More on that soon.

__

Yay! That’s all for now folks. I have enjoyed posting more on my Instagram stories and showing you what’s going on in the DM’s. Thanks for following along. And as always, you can reply to me here! Let me know what else is going on.